Air Commando One Honored, Remembered
(July 7, 2010) |
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| HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (7/3/2010 - AFNS) -- More than 500
friends, family members and servicemembers gathered at here
to honor and remember "Air Commando One" during a memorial
ceremony July 2. |
Airmen of all ranks, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton
Schwartz and Medal of Honor recipient retired Col. George "Bud" Day
attended the ceremony honoring retired Brig. Gen. Harry "Heinie"
Aderholt, who died May 20, at the age of 91.
"The quantity of people we have gathered here is indicative of the
very high regard in which we all hold General Aderholt," General
Schwartz said. "It is a truly a high honor to be among the 'quiet
professionals' and speak in remembrance of 'Air Commando One,' a
role model of leadership, a mentor of combat airmanship, a beacon of
the timeless |
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz renders a final
salute to retired Brig. Gen. Harry "Heinie" Aderholt, the former 1st Air
Commando Wing commander, during General Aderholt's memorial service July 2,
2010, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. General Aderholt, who died May 20, 2010 helped
mold and develop Air Force special operations into what it is today. U. S. Air
Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Loken |
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value of service to the United States, and a mentor and friend." |
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During his 31 years of Air Force service, General Aderholt
helped nurture and mature Air Force special operations into
what it is today. His career took him to Asia, North Africa,
Europe, and islands throughout the Pacific.
"I have known General Aderholt for almost a half century
because he spent a significant part of his life helping us
fight, side by side. Over the years, our camaraderie turned
into a great friendship," said Mr. Kue Chaw, who spoke
representing the Hmong coalition. "The new generation will
miss General Aderholt, but we should celebrate his life
together."
The Hmong were warriors in north Laos who fought against the
North Vietnamese for more than 15 years. General Aderholt
supported them as commander of the 56th Air Commando Wing in
Thailand, flying propeller driven aircraft to conduct
low-level night interdiction, as well as civic action
missions.
"With his passing, our nation has lost a storied member of
the greatest nation, a visionary leader of combat air power,
and a founding father of modern special operations," General
Schwartz said. "In the time we have today, it would be
impossible to cover even the best of his wartime stories,
his finest qualities, or his most notable accomplishments."
"He was willing to put his career and his life on the line
for the sake of the mission and his people," the general
continued. "Heinie was relentlessly devoted to his people,
exercised marvelous judgment and was creative, industrious
and sometimes unorthodox with his solutions to a formidable
problem. This was exemplified by his approach to combat
leadership. As many here can attest, Heinie's people would
do anything for him, and I am proud to count myself among
them."
Even after his service, General Aderholt was recognized for
his distinct service and leadership. In 2001, he was
inducted into the AFSOC Order of the Sword, becoming the
third person to be inducted into the Order, wherein
noncommissioned officers recognize individuals they hold in
high esteem and wish to honor.
"He was in a league of his own, maintaining razor sharp
focus on mission success while making the welfare of his men
a top priority," General Schwartz said before performing a
final salute in honor of the father of Air Force special
operations.
The ceremony concluded with a flag folding ceremony and a
three-volley salute, performed by the Hurlburt Honor Guard. |
By USAF Sr. Airman Ryan Whitney
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 |
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Reprinted from
Air Force News
Service
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